An external proximal femoral prosthesis for total hip arthroplasty

ABSTRACT

An external proximal femoral prosthesis for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is described, which fundamentally comprises a shell configured a hollow, thin-wall, asymmetric bell shape and a plurality of tension anchor means. An inner transverse cross contour of the shell forms a cavity, which could be affixable to a profile of outer surface of the area of neck, trochantic bed and calcar of the proximal femur. A neck portion of the shell is compatible with acetabular components (ball and cup). The prosthesis is mechanically fastened by tension anchor means during the operation and further biologically secured by in-growing bone through the side holes on the shell wall and into its interior coating surface of implant wall thereafter. The loading force on the femoral head would be well transferred and distributed on the shell and then directly conducted into the cortical bone of the femoral shaft therearound.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a femoral prosthesis to be applied in total hip arthroplasty (THA). More specifically, the prosthesis is an external proximal femoral component, which is housed on the outer area of remnant of proximal femur, which includes retention neck, the trochantic bed and calcar of the proximal femur, and is mechanically fastened during the installation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In a natural human femur, most of loading force of the hip is placed on the head first and downwardly distributed through the hard cortex of the femoral neck and further conducted to the femur shaft, eventually to the knee joint. The quality of bone and its peripherals are key factors in the functionality of the hip joint. As well known, proper loading stress and its orientation on the bone can stimulate and facilitate bone growth and regeneration, in terms of its quality (density) and orientation of growth. There is a range of optimal stress which should be placed on the bone. For instance, if too little stress is applied to the bone, resorption can occur, leading to atrophy of the affected area. By same token, if too much stress is applied, it may also lead to resorption, or may result in an undesirable atrophy of the affected area. In addition, blood circulation and nutrient supply to the bone are also key factors in keeping the joint and bone in good condition (quality and functioning). However, any failure or defect of the factors above leads to bone disease or joint malfunction.

If the femoral head becomes diseased or damaged, it can be replaced with a prosthetic femoral component, such as total hip arthroplasty (THA). A popular THA procedure uses a stem hip prosthesis. THA has been a tremendously successful surgical invention for patients with disabling arthritis of the hip. The quality of life is predictably improved following THA.

The conventional stem design has been used in clinical THA practice for a few decades and its disadvantages have been identified. 1) The bending moment that is applied through an inter-modularly stem results in stress concentrations at points of the proximal, medial and the distal lateral ends of the prosthesis, respectively, which has been considered as a relatively small area for loading large force in comparison with area of natural femoral head. 2) The axial loads and torsional moments are transferred to the bone across the bone-prosthesis interface resulting in high shear stresses at the interface. 3) Due to the high stiffness of the prosthesis, there is a reduction in bending displacements, resulting in stress shielding in most of the area between bone and prosthesis. This disparity in stiffness also contributes to interface shear stresses. 4) There is also poor blood circulation around implanted prosthesis, causing the bone quality to decrease with time. As a result of these effects, the stem hip prosthesis cannot remain in the body for long period of time. Thus, this prosthesis is better for people over the age of 60.

In addition, in 1940, the procedure of a resurfacing hip replacement (RHR) was introduced, and recently its use has becoming popular, with both short- and medium-term reviews showing favorable results for young people or patients with femoral necks which are in good shape. However, long-term results are still awaited. The advantages of the RHR technique include the preservation of bone stock, a short rehabilitation period due to the less extensive surgery and the possibility of revision to a regular total hip prosthesis. However, some authors dispute these favorable results pointing out that the bone is not preserved and that both femoral head resorption and acetabular defects lead to subsequent early failure.

In general, there are a few factors resulting in proximal femoral resorption by an implanted prosthesis: 1) stress shielding underneath the device, 2) progressive resorption due to an initial mismatch between bone and prosthesis leading to subsequent bone resorption and 3) compromised vascularity of the femoral head with subsequent osteonecrosis.

More specifically, previous studies have discovered that the major reasons for the vertical migration and subsidence of the femoral component in hip replacement, which causes the likelihood of loosening of the device, accurately, are:

1) From material properties point of view, cancellous bone is very different from cortical bone and metal. For example, the elastic modulus of the cortical bone, cancellous bone and stem prosthesis (CoCrMo) are 17.3.times.10.sup.9, 324.6 times.10.sup.6 and 196.times.10.sup.9 (Pa), respectively. In principle, cancellous bone cannot support any load at all. Once cancellous bone comes in contact with the hard surface of metal stem and is loaded with a force beyond its physiological limits, plastic deformation occurs, which accumulates over an extended period of time and manifests itself as migration of the prosthesis.

2) There are changes and differences in the way force is loaded and distributed on the neck of the femur of an intact femur and an implanted stem prosthesis. According to Wolff's law, changes in stress distribution throughout the bone eventually causes definite alteration in its internal structure. For example, the strain applied on femoral head is radially transferred along the length of the stem. This causes a compression force from femoral head to be applied only on inner wall of shaft femur, concentrated on a small and local area of the medullas channel. This leads to local plastic deformation of the cancellous bone.

3) Current surgerical procedures of stem THA generally requires the removal of the entire head and neck portion as well as some hard outer cortical bone in order to open the intramedullar canal and install the prosthesis. Such surgery imposes a lot of anatomical changes on the natural system, in terms of blood circulation and nutrient supply to affected area, that it also causes further physical changes in proximal femur with respect to bone quality after the surgery. These problems have been recognized by the orthopaedic community for quite some time. Obviously, these problems are associated with the current design of the hip prosthesis. Aseptic loosening, fatigue fracture, postoperative infection and stress shielding, can directly or indirectly relate to the stem-style design of the prosthesis with respect to weaknesses in both biomechanical and physiological outcomes from the existing THA.

The average 10-15 year survival rate of a total hip replacement (THR) in patients, particularly in patients younger than 55 years, is only 70% or less. The outcome of THA is dependent on its installation, the bone quality of patient and the activity of patient. However, the relatively poor survival rate suggests the need for an alternate method for replacing degenerative hips in this group of patients.

There have been several inventions of femoral prostheses issued previously which described non-stem construction of femoral prosthesis and intended retention the femoral neck. Most of them focus on either the replacement of the defective femoral head, which eliminates overcutting of healthy bone from patient or propose a stabilization prosthesis on outside of proximal femur. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,769 (Wagner) teaches the cap for a femoral head, which can be imbedded without the use of cement. U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,740 (Kleiner) describes an anchored femoral dome that can be abutted with a sculpted femoral head through mechanical fastenings. U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,593 (Caracciolo) describes a total anatomic hip prosthesis which applied a cap on the defective femoral head with anchorage means fitting by pressure the acetabulum in the iliac fossa. These technologies all have their limitations and can not be widely applied. Due to the large variation of femoral head sizes between patients, it is difficult to develop a device which matches each individual one. In most casees, the femoral neck has more or less been damaged, so that it can not fully support the load from new head, even though the head has been repaired.

There have been ideas for a stemless femoral prosthesis in past. U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,716 (Huang) describes a prosthesis with a hollow cylinder shape and could be encased in outer area of a shaped femoral neck, in order to limit unnecessary cutting of femoral bone during THA. The prosthesis was fastened by one center screw through its body and expected a bio-mechanical fixation via the growth of new bone around it. There were a few successful cases in its clinical past, but it has explored defects in its design. Primarily, it was difficult to shape the retained portion of the femoral neck to match internal shape of the prosthesis, causing the existence of micro movements of the prosthesis around the neck, particularly in early stages of rehabilitation. In order to stabilize the prosthesis on the remnant neck, the fastening screw played a critical role. This caused too much stress to be applied on the screw and on the bone around the area the screw engaged. This resulted in either screw breakage or bone resorption. So it was hard to maintain the prosthesis in a stable condition. Furthermore, a taller cylinder section of the prosthesis was required to obtain an enough contact surface area of the prosthesis with femoral neck, which reduced the swing range of prosthesis motion. The angle of its motion was far less than 120 degree. The reduced range of motion (ROM) resulting from this total hip replacement (THR) leads to frequent prosthetic impingement, which may restrict activities of daily living and cause loss or dislocation of acetabular components. In practice, such a femoral prosthesis has a limited range of patient condition applications and difficulties in clinical use.

Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved joint prosthesis, which addresses the needs and problems of prior joint designs as it relates to the distribution of stress and maintaining good bone condition.

From a practical point of view, in the case of a young patient, besides a diseased femoral head, most of the surface and the subsurface bone tissue around proximal femur are actually quite healthy, particularly the neck portion of femur. In these situations, it is undesirable to remove the healthy portion of the femoral neck. It has been recognized in previous studies that the femoral neck and calcar, particularly the medial neck cortex of femur, play a very important role in both loading and conducting compression force on proximal femur. Thus, the retention of the femoral neck and conducting the load through cortical bone of femur is a very important requirement for designing a new prosthesis hip and developing a new procedure for its implantation.

In addition, the stemless femoral prosthesis would eliminate most of problems caused by the stem type prosthesis, but it encounters some problems in its installation and maintaining stability in early stage. More specifically, the stemless prosthesis does not have the same advantage as stem prosthesis which sits in the circumferential cavity in proximal femur, providing more contact surface and stability in the early stage after installation. Therefore how to stabilize the stemless prosthesis on site is a key issue for its success.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In light of foregoing problems with prior art, particularly, of the existing femoral prosthesis and procedures, it is a goal of the present invention to provide a femoral component for THA, by which patient will no longer require the removal of the femoral neck and the prosthesis will not occupy intra-medullar bone of shaft anymore. This prosthesis consists of a hollow arcuated shell with a thin-wall, which supports a prosthetic femoral head from existing techniques, would be mechanically anchored onto the outside of retention neck, trochantic bed and calcar of proximal femur after resecting and shaping the diseased or damaged head of femur. A biological fixation of the prosthesis would be from in-growth bone surround the femoral neck during recovery period. This eliminates most of the complications of short and long term.

The object of present invention is to provide an ideal solution, in terms of both the biomechanical and physiological function, for the replaced femur in arthroplasty. More particularly, it will provide a similar distribution pattern of loading force as one in a natural femur with respect to stress and strength distribution of both the implanted prosthesis and the structures of the retained bone as well as keep the physiological conditions around bone healthy and functioning. The loading force will be well distributed on the shell and directly conducted onto the broad area of the cortex bone of the femoral shaft through the prosthetic hollow shell on the outside of proximal femur. This pattern of loading force will maintain bone quality and bone stock distribution in a way as similar as natural one.

Another goal of the present invention is to provide an ideal manner to install femoral prosthesis into human body and to eliminate the damage and changes on the anatomic structure of proximal femur, in terms of its biological structure and its blood flow. This would be an ideal solution for younger (20 years old or up) patients, who are more active and require a longer lifetime of the device. Obviously, there are no damages to the intra-medullar canal and bone marrow of proximal femur by such method. The new device would not obstruct any bone growth in both the medullar and shaft of femur of a young patient.

Still another goal of the present invention is provide multiple fastening methods for the femoral prosthesis, that has expanded application for many more patients, regardless patient age, quality of bone or disease, which caused the hip defect. Furthermore, the present invention allows a patient to be substantially completely mobile after the operation and a shorter recovery period, because of 1) a simple operative technique, less damage of bone and a shorter period of the operation time and 2) a better interface between prosthesis and remnant femur due multiple mechanical fastenings and biological fastenings applied in the prosthesis. In addition, even if such an implanted femoral prosthesis were to fail at a later stage, it may be easily repaired, removed or replaced by another surgery, which could be a new same type of prosthesis or stem type one. It will expand the entire life span of artificial joint in human body. It will give more hope and promise for young patients.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. A posterior view of an external proximal femoral prosthesis (left) attached on shaped proximal femur.

FIG. 2. A medial view an external proximal femoral prosthesis (left) attached on shaped proximal femur.

FIG. 3 a. A posterior and medial view of an external proximal femoral prosthesis, respectively.

FIG. 3 b. A detail description of an external proximal femoral prosthesis, in both posterior and medial views, respectively.

FIG. 4. A schematic drawing: a typical sample of assembling prosthetic parts along the inclination angle of femoral shaft.

FIG. 5. A schematic drawing of the rivet means applied on the prostheses assembly on a shaped proximal femur.

FIG. 6. A detail description of rivet means.

FIG. 7. A schematic drawing: a rivet case of the assembly of prosthetic parts along the inclination angle of femoral shaft.

FIG. 8. A schematic description of various options of endo-expandable anchoring devices and a lateral means applied upon prosthesis assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to an external proximal femoral prosthesis for THA. Referring to FIGS. 1, and 2, in general, the shell (50) of prosthesis has a hollow bell shape with an asymmetric configuration for housing into outside retention of either the left or right proximal femur, respectively and anchor means for mechanically attaching and securing the shell to the proximal femur. More particularly, certain aspects of the present invention are directed to a femoral prosthesis that comprises several key features that provide an optimum configuration of the following factors:

-   (1) A minimum removal of bone during implantation, particularly     retaining the femoral neck and keep the intramedullar canal of shaft     in functioning, which could avoid any side-effect associated with     opening intramedullar canal of the shaft. -   (2) A broad contact area and stability of the implant on cortex bone     surface as well as maximum ease of installation of the prosthesis. -   (3)To maintain as most as possible loading stress fashion applied on     cortex bone of the femur, in order to keep bone quality in better     quality and shape. In other word, stress from the head is well     distributed on the shell and is further conducted into the cortical     bone through body of shell instead loading on cancellous bone of the     femur through the stem.

Referring to drawings, a preferred embodiment of left femoral neck-locking component is illustrated in FIG. 1. It should be noted that, while the description of the invention and the related figures are directed the left femoral component, the present invention is also applicable to a right femoral component, which is merely a mirror image of the left component described and illustrated herein.

In general, the diseased or fractured femoral head can be resected at the level below the head; most preferably a resection is just below the head. The intact neck and the tronchantic bed of femur could be sculpted by ancillary equipment (not shown). The hollow shell would be tightly anchored onto the outside of the retention neck, the trochantic bed and calcar of the proximal femur. An important feature of the overall design of implantation, which is discussed in greater detail below, is to allow for less cutting the femoral neck and ideal installation of prosthesis on outside of remnant of proximal femur.

FIG. 1 shows a proximal femoral prosthetic component 50, constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, is uniquely adapted that has a hollow cup shell structure. A cavity of the cup shell is affixable for mounting to outside of predetermined remnants 12 of the natural proximal femur and Its neck portion of said shell is compatible with defined articulation component 40 (head and acetabulum) for using in replacement of a defective hip joint. Here, the head and acetabulum are not part of the present invention and may be of any commerciably available kind which is suitable.

In a more general embodiment, as described in FIGS. 1 and 2, said femoral component comprises of: an asymmetric femoral shell 50 has a hollow cup with asymmetric bell-like shape. An inner dimension of said cavity is configured to encase and to be affixable to the exterior surface of the remnant of the proximal femur, which particularly includes areas of femoral neck 12 and the trochantic bed (groove) 13, as well as calcar 15; and tension anchor components are a plurality of means, which have functions of mechanically anchoring and fastening said femoral prosthesis into the shaped remnant of proximal femoral bone. In particularly, such a fasten means of tension anchor components allows said shell to be suitable for a broad indication and patient's condition.

As detailed of a preferred embodiment in FIG. 4, said shell 50 has a longitudinal axis 51. It is defined an axis which configured to be substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis 16 of natural femoral neck, on which said shell is placed. So in other word, said longitudinal axis 51 of said shell would form a inclination angle 52 with the femoral shaft (long bone) from a range of about 115 to about 145 degrees and anteversion angle with the plane of the human body from about 6 to about 16 degrees, if said shell component is implanted on the site. Because of coaxial of the longitudinal axis 51 and 16, when said shell is implanted, a new inclination angle 52 and anteversion angle from the prosthesis would be same or very close to anatomical angles of femoral shaft from a particular patient.

As described in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, said shell comprises following portions: a neck portion 60 for receiving articulation component; a substantially hollow cup portion 70 extended from and adjacent to said neck 60, which is shaped and dimensioned to encase the outer surface of the shaped proximal femur; a distal portion 80 for stabilizing said shell in remnant of proximal femur.

Said neck 60 of said shell 50 possesses a circumferential object with a longitudinal center 62, which is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of said shell 50. Said neck is rigidly jointed on a shoulder 73 of said cup 70 (integral with said hollow cup and necks). A major function of said neck is mainly to adapt into a cavity of a prosthetic head, to provide a various length of prosthetic neck to fit into a different profile of patient and to allow a central screw pass through and engage upon cortical bone on lateral side of proximal femur. Since articulation and acetabulum components used are not part of the present invention, they may be of any commercially available kind, which is suitable. For instance, a prosthetic head used could be one from either total head resurfacing technique or existing total hip arthroplasty(stem one) technique. More particularly, a shape and diameter of the cavity as well as materials of prosthetic head may be matched, which are varied from application to application, if necessary or desired.

As defined in FIG. 3 a, said neck 60 of said shell 50 is configured an exterior feature and interior feature, respectively. Said exterior feature here comprises at least two sections: a conical section 64 and a base section 65, respectively.

Said conical section 64 of neck has an uninterrupted outer surface and is configured frusto-conical, which is continuously tapered from a proximal end of conical section 64 to the up edge of said base section 65 by a way of increasing diameter, in order to mate with internal structures of a defined socket of said articulation component (a prosthetic head) used, in term of its length, diameter, and tape angle, if it has, as well as other textures on its body.

Said base section 65, in general, has a cylindrical shape with a predetermined length, and diameter. It forms a transition zone between said conical section 64 of neck and said shoulder 73 of said cup portion 70, In a preferred embodiment, a variation on the length of said base section 65 is effective to make distance adjustment, in order to allow total prosthetic height fitting into each individual profile of patient's femur, in term of a proper leg length and a range of swing angle of prosthesis installed in a particular patient. A preferred range of said length of said base section is about 2-10 mm.

Said interior feature of said neck possesses a bore 67 at the center of said neck, which is along said longitudinal axis 51 of said shell. Said bore 67 has been configured a structure selected from following options:

In a preferred embodiment, a through-hole 681 serves a pass for central screw going through it from proximal side to lateral direction and engaging toward cortical bone in lateral shaft (for self-tapping screw 923A) or the lateral side plate 121 (for regular thread 923B), in case a patient has a weak or thin lateral shaft, respectively. Said hole comprises a first cylindrical section 682 with a first diameter at the proximal part and a second cylindrical section 684 with a second diameter thereafter. Said second diameter here is less than said first diameter. Such a structure forms a stage 683 inside said bore. A deepness of said first cylindrical section 682 essentially is equal or slightly larger than a length of abutment (head) at proximal end of a central screw 90. Said stage 683 is a “site packet” of said central screw 90, while anchoring said shell.

In another preferred embodiment, said bore 67 is a hole with internal thread, which matches the thread of a central screw. Said central screw has inserted from lateral side of femur, passed through a bore on said lateral plate 121 and intra-medullar tissue and engaged on said hole. If do so, it would connect said shell with said lateral plate 121 and fasten it on proximal femur. Such an option could be applied in a case of that patient has cortical bone of poor quality, particularly in lateral side of the femur.

Said cup 70 generally has asymmetric bell shape with a circumferential wall 74, which has a typical thickness of wall at a range from 0.5 to 4 mm, from its section to section. Said cup 70 has an inner surface and an outer surface of said hollow wall, which have features selected from the group consisting of the following:

-   -   (1) In a preferred embodiment, a said surface is well-polished,         in both surfaces. More specifically, said inner surface has         textures on the solid section of said peripheral wall. Said         textures have selected from group consisting of rids, spike and         others. Such a feature serves a function to stimulate and         promote new bone developing under proper stress and provides         spot for bone growing into, when it attached bone surface of         remnant.     -   (2) In another preferred embodiment, said surfaces are coated by         a layer of bone engaging materials, particularly on inner         surface. Such materials could be selected from group consisting         of: a porous coating, surface coating materials of         hydroxyapatite (HA), and other bone in-growth promoting coating         materials or their combination on them, in order to enhance new         bone growth into said coated surface. The bone in-growth         promoting material is selected from the group consisting of:         growth factors, bone morphogenic proteins, and their mixtures         thereof.

Said cup 70 has a structure, which comprises of three sections: a shoulder 73, a circumferential wall 74 and a peripheral collar 75, respectively. It is important to emphasize that since an inner profile of said cup closely matches that of the proximal femur, its orientation once installed would match the orientation of the proximal femur( nature hip). So said cup has orientation of lateral, anterior posterior and medial facet, respectively, corresponding to those in proximal femur.

Said shoulder 73 forms an arch-wise, bowl-shape ending wall at proximal end of said cup, which rigidly connects and supports said neck 60 of said shell, and serves as a smooth transition zone between neck and the body of said shell.

Said circumferential wall 74 possesses an inner contour 741 configured to seat against exterior surfaces of the remnant neck of proximal femur 12. Its inner dimension has a plurality of transverse cross sections along a view of said longitudinal axis, which is closely matching the exterior transverse cross contour of a sculpted femoral neck 12. Said wall has been hollowed by a plurality of apertures 742. The shape of said apertures has configured open windows selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of round hole, elongated round hole and others thereof. Said apertures 742 on said wall are well distributed on area around posterior and anterior face of said wall 74 and but not in a middle section (lateral and medial side) between them, which is considered as a major area where loading stress is distributed.

Said collar 75 of said cup 70, in principle, is radially, outwardly, uninterrupted flaring from a distal area of said wall 74 at a lower latitude( the end), particularly in lateral, posterior and medial direction, respectively. More particularly, in said medial direction, said collar is continually elongating toward calcar region of femur and forms “tongue-like” shape collar 754. In more detail, the collar around lateral direction 751 covers area between the lateral root of the femoral neck toward greater trochanter and one around the direction of posterior of said wall covers area between the posterior root of the neck and trochantic crest, so called trochantic bed or groove 753. Said collar around the direction of medial of said cup covers area between the medial root of neck and femoral calcar, called calcar collar, which has an elongated “tongue-like” shape and more flat (less sloped) than other side of collar. The section of said collar will embed into the outer surface of femoral calcar, which is considered as an area with higher thickness and hardness in femoral bone and loading more compressive stress. So said collar 75 of said hollow cup 70 possesses a shape, which closely follows the anatomical contours of both trochantic bed (groove) and femoral calcar on the proximal femur, respectively. Such a structure would offer the prosthesis a broader area to load maximum compression stress from head in harder surface. It is important to emphasize that such a collar 75 only intends to cover a groove area and area of proximal calcar and avoids covering the greater and lesser trochanters. In order to do so, particularly, a feature of collar near lower lesser trochantic area is there is a bow section 761, at which said collar is bowed slightly, smoothly and upwardly. A typical shape of anterior facet of the cup is close to match with the surface of the “cliff-like” anterior side of femoral neck and shaft.

Said distal portion 80 serves a function of stabilization of said shell on femoral remnant. In first embodiment of the distal portion, it possesses at least one elongated stem 811, by way of example and not by way limitation, which is extended from and is integral with said inner wall of said cup 70 at lower attitude. The preferred number of stems is two. Thereby, the first stem 811A of said distal portion preferred located at area near lateral root of femoral neck. The second one 811B preferred located at area between a posterior root of femoral neck and lesser trochanter.

A longitudinal axis of the stem 811 is perpendicularly to a bottom plane of said cup 70. A length of said stems is selected from the group consisting of, when said cup installed,

-   -   (1) stem 811 is long enough for being inserted (through area         near to, but not on, greater trochanter and lesser trochanter)         and staying with intra-medullar tissue of femur, and     -   (2) stem 811 is long enough to be laterally extended through         lateral cortical bone of the femur and inserted (joined with)         into the hole(s) 125A, C, and D on said lateral plate.

There can be texture on outside surface of said stem 811. Such a texture 812 could be saw-tooth like ribs, spike, or protrusions on outside lateral surfaces.

Said distal portion 80, in 2nd preferred embodiment, possesses at least one screw-threaded hole (not shown) by way of example and not by way limitation, on said collar area of said cup 70 (of, but not on, greater trochanter and lesser trochanter). More preferred arrangement of said threaded holes would be at least two of them in separated location. The first one is preferred located at area near the lateral root of femoral neck. The second one preferred located at area of said collar between the posterior root of femoral neck side and lesser trochanter. Accordance of this configuration, a function of the thread hole(s) serves a base for the thread pin(s). So said elongated pin with thread at its proximal end, in a preferred embodiment, could couple with an anchoring rivet to penetrate into either intra-medullar tissue of femur and screw through the hole. In another preferred embodiment, the end section of said threaded pin could further passes through the lateral cortices and joint with or inserted into the bore on said lateral plate.

In additional preferred embodiment of the distal portion, a function of the threaded hole(s) and serve for accepting said threaded fastening screw from lateral side of femur, which passes through bores on said lateral plate, intra-medullar tissue and engages on such holes. Such a connection between said shell and said lateral plate would increase a stability of shell implanted against large amount of stress and provide a broader application of the prosthesis, particularly in concerns of differing bone quality of femur of various patients.

Said shell 50, as entire piece, is made of a biocompatible materials selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, Cobalt-Chrome(Co—Cr), Cobalt-Chrome-Molybdenum (Co—Cr—Mo), Titanium (Ti) and its alloys, ceramics, composite materials and their combinations.

Continuing still further, in accordance with additional principles and teachings of the present invention, an unique and novel structure of said tension anchor components has configured a means selected from the group consisting of: thread engaged fasten means, endo-expandable anchoring device; lateral means 121 and their combinations.

Thread engaged fasten means comprises, basically of a set of screws: a central fasten screw 90, and collar fasten pins which serves a function of connecting and fastening said femoral prosthesis on the remnant of the shaped proximal femoral bone.

Said central screw 90, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a flanged cylindrical head in its proximal end 921 with a proper length and a X shaped recess for tool, such as drive wrench, distal end 922 with a thread and bolt section 923 extended the proximal end to distal end. A distal end of screw with smaller diameter than one of bolt section has a type of thread selected from the group consisting of: a typical thread for self-tapping screw 923A and a regular thread 923B.

In a preferred embodiment of said central screw, said self-tapping screw 923A is insertable through said hole 681, which could couple with one of option of endo-expandable anchoring means, seats on said stage 683 on said neck, then self-drills into a pre-drilled hole of intra-medullar tissue and further engages into lateral cortical bone of the femoral shaft.

In the meantime, said endo-expandable anchoring means would expand during screw engaging. Thereof it firmly fastens said shell into the sculpted remnant of proximal femur. Said screw is made of materials selected from the group consisting of biocompatible materials and bioabsorbable materials.

In another preferred embodiment of the threaded screw, Said screw 923B with a regular thread is insertable through said hole 681, seats on said stage 683 on said neck, which could couple with one of option of endo-expandable anchoring means, then passes through a pre-drilled hole of intra-medullar tissue and engages a threaded bore 125A in said lateral plate on lateral side of femur. In the meantime, said endo-expandable anchoring means would expand during the screw engaging. Thereof it connects said shell and said lateral plate together and firmly fastens said shell into the sculpted remnant of femur. Said screw being made of biocompatible metal materials or bioabsorbable materials.

In another additional preferred embodiment, said screw 923B with a regular thread is insertable through said through-hole 125A of said lateral plate 121, then couple with one of option of endo-expandable anchoring means, and passes through a bore in intermedullar bone of proximal femur, then further engages said threaded bore of said neck of said shell. Thereof it connects said shell and said lateral plate together and firmly fastens said shell into the sculpted remnant of femur, said screw being made of biocompatible metal materials.

Said collar pins, in a preferred embodiment, comprises proximal end with a thread on it, which fits into thread of hole in said collar from a side of said cup, and elongated bolt with a smaller diameter thereafter, which penetrates into said rivet and then intra-medullar tissue. There are at least two collar screws needed in lateral and posterior position of said shell, respectively. By way of the best example, if both said collar pins and said central screw installed, there is a angle between them and therefore, they forms an wedged structure against pull out of said shell from “site”.

Said collar screws, in another preferred embodiment, comprises a flanged head in its proximal end with a X shaped recess for tool, such as drive wrench, distal end with a thread and bolt section extended the proximal end to distal end. Said screw passes through bore of said lateral plate and intra-medullar tissue and engages into threads in said collar, in order to fasten said shell. There are at least two collar screws needed in lateral and posterior position of said shell respectively. By way of the best example, if both said collar screws and said central screw installed, there is a angle between them and therefore, they forms an wedged structure against pull out of said shell from “site”.

In a more general embodiment, said endo-expandable anchoring means is a set of a device, which may be axially compressed along longitudinal axis of said fastening means and thereby radially expanded by cooperating with a movement of a thread engaging/press-in member, in order to enhance a pull-out resistance of fastening means and reduce stress intensity on object, for example such intra-medullar tissue of bone. Said endo-expandable anchoring means basically having a configuration selected from the group consisting of:

In the first preferred embodiment, seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, an expandable member, defines a rivet or rivet-like means, a radially deformable elongated tubular rivet member 101, coupled with either pin or threaded screw. Said tubular rivet member 101 comprises a shank section 102 at the proximal end as a shoulder, a sleeve section103, and a cylinder distal end 104 axially extending from said proximal end, which has been axially cross-cut in at least two sections, preferred in four sections, and formed expandable/spreadable legs 105. As an entire tube, there is a through bore, as an internal passage 103A, in which either said central screw, said stems or collar pin could pass through. The leg 105 has teeth or thread 105A in its medial side for said screw engaging on. At the end opposite to the distal end 104, the shank section 103B is provided an abutment flange or collar and knife-shaped axial ribs outside of flange, which is non-moveable member in the device. The sleeve section 103 is a cylindrical wall. There can be texture on outside surface of said rivet. Such a texture could be saw-tooth like ribs, spike, or protrusions on outside lateral surfaces 101C, that could embed into the adjacent bone upon deployment of the fastener in order to increase the fastening strength of the device. Said rivet is deployed by advancing the insertion end of the pin or screw into the internal passage 103A in the proximal end of the rivet. In a preferred embodiment here, said pin could be said stem 811 of said shell or said pins.

In the second preferred embodiment, seen in FIG. 8, it defines a radially deformable elongated tubular anchoring member 111, which basically, comprises the shank section 113, an expandable sleeve 114 and nut section 115 at distal end, fused together in an integral, one-piece unit. Said shank section 113 at proximal end provides an abutment flange or collar and knife-shaped axial ribs outside of flange, which is non-moveable member in the device said sleeve 114 has cylindrical thin wall tube and provided a number of uniformly circumferentially spaced and axially extending slits or slots 114A, which is divided the said thin wall up into a number of strip- or band-formed parts. Said distal nut 115 axially is extending from said sleeve and has internal thread or teeth for screw engaging on. As an entire tube, there is an internal passage of said member, in which the screw could pass through and engage with said distal nut. By way of example, the tube member 111 may be made with an outer diameter as same as diameter of the fasten means. When said tub member 111, according to the invention, is coupled with said threaded bolt and to be inserted into bore of either neck or said lateral plate and intra-medullar tissue, the bolt is engaged toward to its target (either lateral cortical bone, lateral plate or neck of shell), it simultaneously tightens and compresses the distal end 115 till the innermost end radially expands said sleeve 114 properly and engages to its target, fastened. It should be noted that said screw above has a same preferred fashion of fasten means. In other words, the thread of screw could be either be a typical thread for self-tapping screw 923A or a regular thread 923B. The radially deformable elongated tubular anchoring member 111 may be made of bioabsorbable material or biocompatible metal materials.

In a third preferred embodiment, said expandable member defines a toggle wing anchoring means 130 (seen in FIG. 8) It comprises of a nut as a movable member 131, and a pair(s) of toggle wing member 132, which are expandable. Thereupon, said nut 131, comprises axially central internally threaded hole or aperture 131A, which matches a thread of the screw 133, and a pair(s) of diametrically oriented lug members 131B, 131C extending outwardly away from the annular body portion of the nut 131 in opposite directions.

The pair(s) of toggle wing members 132 are pivotally mounted upon the lugs 131B and 131C of said nut member, in order to move said toggle wing around positions between said first inoperative positions at which said pair(s) of toggle wing members are parallel contracted with respect to each other so as to be disposed substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said screw and said second operative positions at which said pair of toggle wing members are fully radially expanded so as to, together, achieve a substantially V-shaped, or even a larger angled configuration, if necessary or desired. In preferred embodiment, said nut couples with screw 923A or 923B, and expands, when said screw engages toward its target.

By way of example, a preferred pairs of said toggle wing is one or two pairs, or more. A preferred shape of said toggle wing describes a way for better penetration ability into intra-medullar bone during its expansion, for example, a spike-like tip, bards on the side edge of the wing and v-shaped transverse of the wing in axial direction.

In particular, it is to be noted, for example, that such structures have demonstrated the fact that the expandable member, has been constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, and has broader contact area with tissue around and has enhanced pull-out resistance of said fastening component, when it is in the position, regarding to a conventional screw fastening device, without rising stress intensity of surrounding medullar tissue.

It should be emphasized that said screw above has a same fashion preferred in the case of fasten means. In other words, the thread of screw could be either a typical thread for self-tapping screw 923A and a regular thread 923B.

As will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, said expandable member could be made by biocompatible metal materials or bioabsorbable materials. In a preferred embodiment, said expandable member is made by bioabsorbable materials, because most of concerns of fastening said prosthesis in present invention is its early stage fixation. A more preferred embodiment is that said endo-expandable anchoring means is bio-absorbed by body thereafter.

The lateral side plate preferably elongated 121 comprises: a medial surface 122 attachable to the lateral aspect of the shaft of the proximal femur, a generally superior first end, a generally inferior second end along a lateral longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends and a plurality of spaced apertures (see, in general, FIG. 8).

The plate 121 is preferably bowed along the longitudinal axis anterior/posteriorly from the first end to said inferior end, in order to match the bowed lateral shape of the proximal shaft. The amount of bow may vary depending on patient anatomy, etc. In principle, it forms a generally S-shaped curve for the right femur and a generally reverse S-shaped curve for the left femur as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

A medial surface 122 has a plurality textures on it selected from the group consisting of projections, spikes, rough surface, ribs and others. For example, the rib are tapered as they extend radially inwardly, so they terminate in a narrow edge and a plurality of the projection in form of spikes extending generally axially inwardly form inner surface of the plate and terminating in a relatively sharp point. Further more, whereby, the projections are barb-like and have pointed ends facing the head. These projections or barbs are designed according to the so called file cut for coarse files (wood working files), if necessary or desired.

In a preferred embodiment, the plate 121 preferably has a plurality of spaced apertures 125A, therethrough for allowing screw 923B for engaging said neck of said shell and aperture 125C and 125D for accepting stems 811A and 811B from said shell, respectively, to secure the said plate 121 with said shell. In addition there is a plurality of apertures therethrough for allowing screws to secure said plate 121 on the lateral aspect of the shaft of the proximal femur (see, in general, FIG. 8).

In another preferred embodiment, the plate 121 preferably has a threaded aperture thereby for accepting screw 923B from said neck of said shell and a plurality of spaced apertures 125C and D accepting stems 811A and 811B from said shell, to link the said plate 121 and said shell together and secure them on the proximal femur. In addition there are a plurality of apertures therethrough for allowing screws to secure said plate 121 on the lateral aspect of the shaft of the proximal femur.

The specific dimensions of feature of any devices in the present invention can be readily varied depending upon the intended application, as will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, materials, arrangement and procedure, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above, but is solely limited by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An external, proximal femoral prosthetic component for cooperation with remnant of natural proximal femur and articulation components in order to use in total hip arthroplasty comprising: a) an asymmetric hollow shell defined a cavity for at least partially housing on shaped natural proximal femur, which includes external surface around the neck, trochantic bed, and calcar of femur, and an object for at least partially inserting into a cavity of articulation ball, and b) a plurality of tension anchor means serving a function of mechanically fastening said shell onto remnant of shaped proximal femur, whereby said prosthesis will be suitable for broader applications in different types of hip diseases and patient conditions.
 2. The femoral component of claim 1, wherein said shell has a longitudinal axis defined both a inclination angle of said shell toward the femoral shaft at range from about 115 to about 145 degrees and an anteversion angle of said shell toward the plane of the human body from about 6 to about 16 degrees, if said shell is implanted on site.
 3. The femoral component of claim 2, wherein said shell comprises: a) a neck portion defined an object for at least partially inserting into a cavity of articulation ball component, and b) a substantially hollow cup portion extended from said neck and shaped to encase the outer surface of the shaped proximal femur, and c) a substantially distal portion for penetrating through cortical bone and into intra-medullar bone.
 4. The femoral component of claim 3, wherein said neck portion is a circumferential object provided a center bore orientated along said longitudinal axis of said shell and said neck comprises: a) an exterior feature comprising of a conical section and a base section, and b) an interior feature having a structure selected from the group consisting of: 1) a sinking through-hole for a center screw passing through from proximal side of said shell, and 2) a through hole with internal thread for accepting a thrust bolt from lateral side of femur.
 5. The femoral component of claim 3, wherein said cup has an asymmetric, hollow bell-shape comprises: a) a shoulder section forming a proximal bowl end of said cup, which thereof rigid joints and supports said neck portion of said shell, and b) a circumferential wall configuring a plurality of internal transverse cross contour for closely matching external contours of remnant neck of femur and a plurality of apertures well distributed on area around a posterior and anterior side of said wall, respectively, and c) said collar being radial-outwardly, uninterrupted flaring from a lower latitude of said wall in lateral, posterior and medial direction, respectively.
 6. The femoral component of claim 5, wherein said cup has inner and outer surface, respectively, said inner and outer surface having a plurality of textures selected from the group consisting of: a polished surface and a coating layer of bone growth engaging materials.
 7. The femoral component of claim 6, wherein said polished surface said cup has a plurality of projections selected from group consisting of rids, spike, barbs and their combinations.
 8. The femoral component of claim 2, wherein said distal portion has a structure selected from the group consisting of: a) at least one rigid elongated stem, by way of example and not by way limitation, downwardly extended from said inner wall of said cup at lower attitude and being perpendicularly to a bottom plane of said hollow cup, and b) at least one threaded hole, by way of example and not by way limitation, at position on either said wall or said collar of said cup for a thrust pin engaging into.
 9. The femoral component of claim 1, wherein said shell is made of a biocompatible materials selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, Cobalt-Chrome(Co—Cr), Cobalt-Chrome-Molybdenum (Co—Cr—Mo), Titanium (Ti), Titanium alloys, ceramics, composite materials and their combinations.
 10. The femoral component of claim 1, wherein said tension anchoring means has configured means selected from the group consisting of: fasten means, an endo-expandable anchoring device, a lateral means and their combinations.
 11. The femoral component of claim 10, wherein said fasten means made by a biocompatible materials or bioabsorbable materials comprises: a) said central screw comprising a proximal head and elongated bolt body with a type of thread selected from the group consisting of self-tapping thread for engaging lateral cortical bone and a regular thread, respectively and b) said threaded pin comprising a proximal end with a thread and elongated distal bolt for engaging into said threaded hole of said shell.
 12. The femoral component of claim 10, wherein said endo-expandable anchoring device has a configuration selected from the group consisting of: a) a rivet means having an elongated body with a proximal tub portion at a proximal end thereof and a plurality of spreadable legs dependent from said tub portion, and b) an expandable sleeve means configured elongated tubular member adapted to said fasten means, said tubular member comprising a proximal end, a sleeve section and distal nut with a thread, said sleeve configured a cylindrical thin wall with a number of uniformly circumferentially spaced and axially extending slits or slots, and c) a toggling means mechanism configured a pair(s) of toggle wing members, which are pivotally mounted upon a pair(s) of lugs of a threaded nut.
 13. The femoral component of claim 12, wherein said endo-expandable anchoring means made by materials selected from the group consisting of available biocompatible metal materials and bioabsorbable materials and their combinations.
 14. The femoral component of claim 10, wherein said lateral means configured a lateral plate comprises a first end, a second end remote from said first end, a longitudinal axis extended and anterior/posteriorly bowed between said first and second ends, a medial surface, center bores and accessory sinking holes, said lateral plate made by a material selected from group consisting of stainless steel, Cobalt-Chrome(Co—Cr), Cobalt-Chrome-Molybdenum (Co—Cr—Mo), Titanium (Ti) alloys ceramic, composite materials and their combinations.
 15. An external, proximal femoral prosthesis formed by materials selected from the group consisting of biocompatible materials and bioabsorbable materials for cooperation with a proximal femur and bearing component in order to use in total hip arthroplasty comprising: a) an asymmetric shell having a ball receiving portion, a substantially hollow, distal open envelop and a leg portion, and b) a plurality of anchoring means configured device selected from the group consisting of: a engaging means, an endo-ensuring assembly, a lateral supporting means and their combination, whereby said prosthesis will be suitable for broader application in different types of hip disease and patient conditions.
 16. The femoral prosthesis of in claim 15, wherein a) said ball receiving portion of said shell provides a conical external feature for fitting into a cavity of predetermined bearing articulation and internal feature for engaging said shall on remnant of shaped proximal femur by said anchoring means, and b) said hollow envelop of said shell has rigidly jointed with said ball receiving portion and comprises a circumferential hollow wall and extended collar thereafter, said envelop configured inner transverse contour for closely matching one of remnant of shaped proximal femur and, said wall having a plurality of open windows distributed on anterior and posterior side of said wall, and c) said leg portion having a plurality of rigid legs, said leg having downwardly extended from said hollow envelop at lower latitude for penetrating cortical bone and staying in intra-medullar tissue.
 17. The femoral prosthesis of in claim 15, wherein said engaging means comprises: a) a rigid, elongated screw threaded bolt for anchoring said prosthesis on proximal femur either from medial side or lateral side of femur by coupling with or without said lateral supporting means, and b) said endo-ensuring assembly, which comprises a mean having at least a radial expansion member(s) and axial compression member coupled with said radial expansion member, said endo-ensuring assembly cooperating with said axial compression means, such as a screw threaded bolt for ensuring said bolt in intra-medullar tissue or pins, and c) said lateral supporting means provides a rigid, bowed plate with a plurality of sinking apertures and medial surface features for attaching lateral femur and engaging with said prosthesis by said engaging means.
 18. A plurality of proximal joint replacing components, formed of materials selected from the group consisting of biocompatible materials and bioabsorbable materials, for use in hip arthroplasty comprising: a) an asymmetric, hollow envelop comprising an object for meeting with a cavity of predetermined bearing articulation, a cavity for fitting into outside of remnant of shaped proximal femur and a distal portion for penetrating cortical bone and staying in intra-medullar tissue, and b) a plurality of fastening means configured device selected from the group consisting of a engaging means for fastening prosthesis on femur, an interlocking fixation assembly for intra-medullarly locking an engaging means, a lateral supporting means and their combinations, whereby said prosthesis will be suitable for broader application in various types of hip disease and patient conditions. 